Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
intention of starving them out. If the Gauls tried to escape, not only would they
havetobreachthetwowalls, they'dfirsthavetocrossasteep no-man's-landdotted
with a ditch, a moat, and booby traps (including sharp stakes in pits and buried iron
spikes).
The starving Gauls inside Alésia sent their women and children out to beg for
mercy from the Romans. The Romans (with little food themselves) refused. For
days, the women and children wandered the unoccupied land, in full view of both
armies, until they starved to death.
After months of siege, Vercingétorix's reinforcements finally came riding to
savehim.With90,000screaming Gallic warriors(Caesar says250,000)converging
on Alésia, and 80,000 more atop the hill, Caesar ordered his men to move between
the two walls to fight a two-front battle. The Battle of Alésia raged for five days—a
classic struggle between the methodical Romans and the impetuous “barbarians.”
When it became clear the Romans would not budge, the Gauls retreated.
Vercingétorix surrendered, and Gallic culture was finished in France. During
the three-year rebellion, one in five Gauls had been killed, enslaved, or driven out.
Roman rule was established for the next 500 years, strangling the Gallic/Celtic
heritage. Vercingétorix spent his last years as a prisoner, paraded around as a war
trophy. In 46
B.C.
, he was brought to Rome for Caesar's triumphal ascension to
power, where he was strangled to death in a public ritual.
Anis
Demos and Shopping
You can buy the locally produced
anis
candies in pretty tins (they make great souvenirs).
See them being made Monday through Friday mornings (9:00-11:00) in the Abbey of St.
Pierre.
Ramparts
The grassy ramparts are worth a stroll for the view (behind the church, walk down Rue de
la Poterne, turn right at the fork, then look for
Petite Ruelle des Remparts
). Wander out
for the view and double back, or continue down to the next gate and climb back into the
village from there.
$ L'Ange Souriant Chambre d'Hôte
is comfortable and intimate (Sb-€55, Db-€70, Tb-
€99, includes breakfast, cash only, home-cooked dinners available if booked ahead-€27, a
